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Brother Diagnosed as Bi-Polar

H

hevnsnt

Lifer
My brother was recently diagnosed as bi-polar. I am aware of what the term bi-polar means, but I am wondering what this means for my brother. He checked himself in to a hospital last week, because he was afraid that people were after him, and he had just been doing a lot of cocaine. (great I know) Please does anyone have any reading materials, or any advice that I can pass along? I am very worried about him and anything you guys can offer will help.

Thanks
-Bill
 
Wish I had some helpful info, but the extent of my knowledge of BPD is one of my friends bro's has it too. Scary, but manageable (at least for him). Drugs don't help, but I'm sure you know that.

Good luck and best of wishes. 🙁
 
Prescription drugs do help. Recreational drugs don't.

Zoloft, Xanax, Prozac, etc. all work well with BPD.
 
If he is perscribed lithium for the manic phases, be sure he checks with a pharmacist on possible drug interactions with other drugs and even herbal/home remedies. Lithium can do some funky things when mixed up with other substances.
 
They'll put him on some sort of antibipolar drug. Lithium, interestingly enough, helps some sufferers. Do you know if it was type I or type II BPD?
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
If he is perscribed lithium for the manic phases, be sure he checks with a pharmacist on possible drug interactions with other drugs and even herbal/home remedies. Lithium can do some funky things when mixed up with other substances.
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As far as I know, it should be prescribed. Too much lithium can result in lithium intoxication, too little will have little or no effect.
 
well we are still not quite convinced that he is bi-polar, but that might just be a result of us not wanting him to be. So I do not know what type he is yet...

He is 21 years old, and he is currently talking and interacting normally, however, he will become paranoid and start talking about spys and stuff, then back to normal conversation.
 
Originally posted by: hevnsnt
well we are still not quite convinced that he is bi-polar, but that might just be a result of us not wanting him to be. So I do not know what type he is yet...

He is 21 years old, and he is currently talking and interacting normally, however, he will become paranoid and start talking about spys and stuff, then back to normal conversation.
Click to expand...

I thought bi-polar was when someone is really happy one moment and really sad the next and really angry the next and etc.

Are you sure he's not schitzo?
 
Bipolar people swing from mania to depression in an instant. Sounds like your bro is a schizophrenic.
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I tend to agree, and he's the right age to start showing schizophrenic signs, but the 2 diagnoses are not mutually exclusive. The raving could easily be part of the bipolar manic phase.

Strangely enough, some folks with bipolar disorder are very successful folks, and their children are more so. It's very treatable with drugs, it's when he goes off the drugs that you'll need to watch out for him.
 
My brother is bi-polar and schizophrenic, hes in jail though so I dont know how he acts.
 
Originally posted by: Legendary
Bipolar people swing from mania to depression in an instant. Sounds like your bro is a schizophrenic.
Link
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This is a gross oversimplification of the disease. It doesn't necessarily happen "in an instant" but instead, the disease is defined as "periods of depression alternating with periods of mania." It's a devastating disease, and one that needs proper treatment and, more importantly, understanding about exactly what it is.

I note one person talking of Zoloft, Prozac, etc. Those drugs don't do anything, because they work on serotonin, a normal chemical in the brain linked to depression when there is an imbalance. Bipolar disorder ("manic depression") is caused by something else, and there are really only two medicines that are used for treatment: Lithium and Depakote (there are other drugs used occasionally, but those are the main two).

Support is the best thing you can provide. This can be hard sometimes, because people with manic depression can oftentimes become irrational and combative. Just remember, this behavior is not against you personally. Be there for your brother, encourage him to follow his treatment, and everything will hopefully be fine. Good luck! 🙂
 
My ex brother in law is bipolar/schizophrenic, and what you described with the spies and people after him, sounds more like schizophrenia to me. No matter what he is diagnosed as, make sure he takes his medication. It can truly make a huge difference in his every day life. And if you see him slipping, call his doctor(s), please. My exes family never does, and my BIL ends up crashing bigtime, and getting hospitalized for months, because no one wants to admit there is a problem. If he asks for help, make sure he gets it.

It's not the end of the world, by far, its just something some people have to deal with. And alot of times, with the right medications/diet/lifestyle, they can pretty much lead a normal life.
 
and he had just been doing a lot of cocaine

I think the bi-polar thing is crap, tell him to lay off the cain and all will be fine.


BTW I hope your bro gets better.
 
What Are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings?from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.

Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
Extreme irritability
Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
Distractibility, can't concentrate well
Little sleep needed
Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
Poor judgment
Spending sprees
A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
Increased sexual drive
Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
Denial that anything is wrong
A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with 3 or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, 4 additional symptoms must be present.

Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:

Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Restlessness or irritability
Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person's usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. For example, delusions of grandiosity, such as believing one is the President or has special powers or wealth, may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.

 
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